Week 8 in the NFL was short on drama but long on consequences.
Blowouts became a running theme of the week, with nine matchups decided by two touchdowns or more. But parity is still running strong throughout the league, with little clarity on just who will emerge as buyers or sellers ahead of next Tuesday's trade deadline. And with just one week of games remaining until the regular season reaches its halfway point, several teams are still looking to build momentum for a late-season playoff push.
With all that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 8 in the NFL:
Maybe they need to switch to the H-Town threads for good. Decked out in their distinctly cool alternate uniforms, the Texans looked markedly different in a 26-15 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Employing a heavy dose of jumbo packages, the Texans were able to solve their protection problems and keep C.J. Stroud out of duress. The result: A season-high 318 passing yards and an offense that kept possession of the ball for 24:31 in the first half, the highest mark of any team since 2009, according to Next Gen Stats. Even with top target Nico Collins sidelined by a concussion, Stroud put his troika of former Iowa State receivers to work, with Xaiver Hutchinson, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins combining for 14 catches, 166 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, rookie running back Woody Marks continued to be a difference-maker with 111 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches. The offense will need to prove it can hold up against opposition that hasn't suffered the devastating personnel losses that the 49ers have, but this actually looks like a path forward for a much-maligned unit.
